World No. 1 Serena Williams and her sister Venus are one match away from a titanic fourth round meeting, while the men’s No. 5 seed exited Wimbledon without setting foot on the court on Wednesday at the All England Club.
ADHEREL
Serena Williams needed less than an hour to beat Timea Babos 6-4, 6-1, setting up a meeting with Brit No. 1 Heather Watson and her supporting Wimbledon fans.

“I think it will be a huge advantage for [Watson],” said Serena of the Brit’s home court advantage. “It’s going to be a great big match for us both…I feel like she does really well on grass — like she played well in Eastbourne a couple of times. And she had a really good win today [beating Daniela Hantuchova].”

“Overall, it was different conditions that my first round match,” said Sharapova, who will next meet No. 29 Irina Begu, who needed three sets to get by Lesia Tsurenko. “The court played a lot slower. We had a lot longer rallies. I didn’t get a huge advantage off the serve or the return today — I didn’t serve my best — and maybe I made a few too many unforced errors. But overall, once we got into the rallies, once I realized I needed to be a little more patient, then things started working a little better for me.”

A Top 10er failing to advance was No. 7 Ana Ivanovic, who was befuddled by the all-court game of American qualifier Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-3, 6-4.

“I think the hip surgery [at the end of last year] and being out that long really gave me a perspective on playing and enjoying tennis,” Mattek-Sands said. “Last year I was watching all these matches in my house — and with this weather I feel like I’m back in Florida!…I’m here to play my game, I play aggressive and that’s what I’m going to do going forward.”

On the men’s side No. 5 seed Kei Nishikori, who ground through a tough five-setter in his opener, gave a walkover to Colombian Santiago Giraldo when the Japanese exited the event citing a calf injury.

The top seeds on the men’s side all advanced fairly comfortably, save No. 9 Marin Cilic who needed five sets to fend off Lithuania’s Ricardas Berankis 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(6), 4-6, 7-5.

“The match was very, very high quality match,” said Cilic, who will next meet No. 17 John Isner in a serving contest. “I think Ricardas was playing extremely well…I was serving really, really well and I was staying mentally in the match. I saved a couple of break points at end of the fifth, and I think nerves got to Ricardas at the end, and that, I think, decided a little bit.”

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic was a comfortable 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 winner over Jarkko Nieminen in the Finn’s final Wimbledon appearance; No. 4 Stan Wawrinka defeated Victor Estrella 6-3, 6-4, 7-5; and No. 7 Milos Raonic held off a late charge from crowd favorite and former world No. 2 Tommy Haas 6-0, 6-2, 6-7(5), 7-6(4) to move into the third round.

Djokovic will next meet the No. 27 seed Bernard Tomic, who faced down 21 aces from Pierre-Hugues Herbert in a 7-6(3), 6-4, 7-6(5) win.

“I do expect him to serve well, and I do expect him to mix up the game, come up with a lot of variety,” Djokovic said of player nicknamed Tomic the Tank Engine for his flame-outs during matches. “That’s what he does. He’s got a lot of talent in his hands. This is the surface that he loves playing the most on. So it’s going to be a difficult match.”

Raonic will next meet the combustible, unpredictable, virus-ridden No. 26 seed Nick Kyrgios, who was a 7-6(5), 6-3, 6-4 winner over Juan Monaco.

“I’ve just had a little bit of a sinus infection the last couple weeks,” Kyrgios said. “It’s getting to the end stages of it, but it’s still affecting me a little bit. It’s going to go away eventually. It’s pretty annoying at the start of matches. [I] started getting blurry vision. I thought I dug out the first set well. Obviously lifted my energy towards the second and third.”

Showing a bit of his old form was Spain’s Fernando “Hot Sauce” Verdasco, who used his big lefty forehand to upset No. 32 seed Dominic Thiem in five sets 5-7, 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4. Verdasco will next meet Wawrinka.

“Obviously it’s good to go through certain matches in that way, especially in straight sets,” Dimitrov said. “With every match I feel that my game is getting better, but I still feel that there are a couple of things I need to sort of tune up, especially for the next round.”

Hope Fed brings his “ruthlessness” on the court vs Querry. Good test for the Maestro, Querry is a big server.
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“Smokin” Dustin? Lol, Rafa should smoke this guy. The only game this guy has is on grass.

Jane, fine little animated flick. Done in the Japanese anime style. Has allure because most of the elements are basically true.
Including the wildest – his family and others running to the bomb shelters as an attack was already underway – him stumbling over a rock and falling. In real life he said as he was getting up, the noise was like the whole atmosphere being ripped open, and when he looked up, there was a triangular F117A fighter bomber with bomb bay doors open 100-150M right above him. Blinding red light as two missiles launched out of the bomb bay to hit targets in another part of Belgrade. Then him making it into the bomb shelter, where he hugged his Mom.
Think he would outdo most of us in the “what is your most vivid childhood memory?” discussions.

On the topic of Anime, it has matured past kid cartoons, game/superhero shows, and adult animated Manja porn in Japan. Important movies have been done in that medium. One of the best is the antiwar film “Graveyard of the Fireflies”, which the Djokovic in the NATO bombings part if his flick, paid homage to.

Sam Querrey is definitely not the player he once was. I think Roger will dismantle him in straight sets unless Querrey manages to produce his best tennis and stems the tide riding in Roger’s favour.

Coming to Rafa Vs Dustin Brown, I think this promises to be a lively and entertaining match considering that the later consider grass courts as his forte. However, after watching the way Rafa played against Bellucci, I feel that he has got his confidence and groove back on the grass courts. He should pull this one through in straight sets with one tough set on a tie breaker.

I haven’t seen that film yet, but I wonder, have any of you seen the productions of Studio Ghibli, notably “Princess Mononoke”, a true epic worth more than all the tedious “Lord of the Rings” movies put together?

Meanwhile, Rbin Haase is having a baaad day, and can’t do anything right. This is not the tuneup Andy needed today.

@Colin – I’ve seen many of the Studio Ghibli films. While I like many of them (“Spirited Away” and “My Neighbor Totoro” are my favorites), “Princess Mononoke” happens to be my least favorite. But given a choice between that and the LOTR films, I’d pick “Princess Mononoke” if only for the much shorter length.

Dont know which thread to put this on,but just wanted to say big congrats to our Brit guys and gals James Ward and Heather Watson for making the third round,sometimes we get so fixated on the big time players that we forget there are other player making headlines too….

Absolutely awesome from the genius that is that “chap” Andy Murray. Y’know the No3 who was also playing today….Showing us the form he did at Queens.
@KatH/DA/Colin/CDP and any other fans of the magician….he’s so damn CALM on court these days, WTF’s going on?
And big congrats to James Ward, into 3rd round and top 100 after all these years!

Ah glad to “see” U Margot – I was relieved that Haase upped his game for a little bit because it was strangely too calm.

The real answer of course is: Andy gave himself a good talking to on Tuesday and he listened. And who taught him to listen to keep calm? U guessed it – Amelie. (PS: I am reminded of the Notes he was studying earlier this year – his new rules of conduct to ensure a positive outcome).

@ HC: Yes indeed, but his final at Queen’s against Anderson takes some beating.

Never seen Fed play in such fine form all all around. Querry was very sharp in the beginning but as the match wore on Fed simply turned into Dominator.
Fed is at the age where a walkabout can happen at anytime so that was a moment immensely enjoyed. Onward!

`@KatH/DA/Colin/CDP and any other fans of the magician….he’s so damn CALM on court these days, WTF’s going on?`

Growing up?
Greater self awareness?
Yeah, and the obligatory set 2/3 mental walkabout..(oh look, its Rufus up there!)..must have gone walkabouts because it wasn’t THERE
Not a bit of it.
Which is a plus.
I told you M, he’s peaking at just the right moment.
If Amelie can get the er highly `unique` Marion B through to a win she’s a great asset for Andy too.

@CDP
I thought he just fell asleep for a mo….
Yes, it’s a combination of growing maturity/Amelie/confidence in his body/being pain free after so many years. Won Wimbledon with a combination of pain killers and guts.
Just dunno why other people don’t “get” him.

@CDP & Margot – I think it’s a combination of growing up and Amelie’s approach to coaching. I will also credit Jonas who came in saying he would follow Amelie’s plan but also work specifically on aggressive returns and not getting too negative. He admits these two areas used to have an impact on his own game and we know Andy likes his coaches to have first hand experience before he listens to them ;). I think it’s starting to come through just at the right time. For example, I noticed in the match with Kuku Andy had a monologue during the changeover and not in the middle of points.

I havent watched all of the match yet so I might have missed the mini walkabout
@DA
Yes, so we are in agreement
Dustin Brown is an intriguing dude
Love the lobs and the sliced drop shots
he was actually playing with Nadal for a while there
But the dreadlocks look very heavy in the heat!
This is a pressure situation for Rafa (Browns done it before and has belief), and so he may buckle I’m afraid
For verily he looks rather anxious.

I think Dustin is going to go through a cold patch and then Rafa will pounce. He’s playing low % tennis and while it’s exhilarating you can’t keep that up for every game for 3 sets. It was the same with Andy at the USO, very flashy shots that he could do nothing about. Then the mistakes came. I might be wrong. We gonna see, no?

Rafa is re-grouping and more of Dustin’s flashy shots are going out than in.
@CDP
It was a teeny weeny sleep which enabled Haase to get 0-30 in a couple of games…;)
@the DA
Yes, I agree. I think the combination of Amelie and Jonas is brilliant. Apparently they knew each other really well when they were both on the circcuit. Both just now out in the wilderness of court 7 scouting Seppi v Coric, extremely reassuring.
Andy seems peaceful and happy on court. I remember years ago, after Andy beat Roddick at Queens, one of the comms said other players better look out when Andy is happy with his play.
So be it.

Wow, he did it. nadal involved on another drama early round match in Wimbledon. If he is to come out of this it will have to be in 5, nothing that he hasn’t done before but also he must be a little bit panicking that he may go out again first week of Wimbledon.

Brown looked very loose this last game and full of belief. Audience loving the match so far what I saw.

Wow, he breaks to open fourth set. He already got an amazing return and even so Nadal was able to hold but 2 FH inside out mistakes in a row by Nadal showing that he is nervous. This is the shot that let him down all year.

It looks like Andy’s draw opens up Today
I think when Rafa starts to drop it will be precipitous,rather than the serene fading of old Fed
And that drop might be just around the corner, I’m afraid.
I mean, he was out for longer last time and he came back and won everything and now THIS?
But I hope Fedal hang around long enough for Andy to rebalance the H2H in his favour :)

Okie yeah im right with you,im ready for the snarky comments that will no doubt follow the conclusion to this match,just dreading them to be honest,still hes an all time great with 14 GS,thats unfortunatly not the player he was,and it happens to them all….

Last game Brown was 15-30 and had a strong return but missed an approach, now was able to take Nadal to deuce. He is creating more chances on Nadal serve than other way. But just one drop or lapse and Nadal can break back. He needs to keep the first serve in and he can close this out, even with another break if he doesn’t go so wild on some returns forcing Nadal to play more.

Maybe Rafa is at the point in his career when he should look to get a different coach. He can’t afford to be stubborn in trying something new. A fresh pair of eyes might help impove his game and get him back mentally. The way things are going he’ll never win another GS.

2 more games to go for Brown, but now things got tense by the minute. Brown will see the finish line and this is Nadal only hope for a comeback, even somehow Brown chokes, because right now he looks unshakable.

Wimbledon would always be tuff for Nadal vis recent results but Aussie, even tough his last title was in 2009 and RG he always has a shot. US open even tough he has 2 titles I think is far off with how he is playing on HC and the amount of players who can play well there.

@Chick….I dread the aftermath too! You have to be tough to be a Rafa fan! But he gets snarky remarks whether winning or losing. Yes, he’s got 14 and one of the all time greats. I’m favoring Roger to win this thing….just got a gut feeling he will win #18!

This guy is #102 in the world, he will beat Rafa today and you won’t hear anything else about him until he plays Rafa again! Tennis is one crazy mixed up sport…….me thinks!

Daniel if you like that sort of thing then more power to you,not my cup of tea,dont find ultra violence and gang rape funny,the whole thing is offensive to men and women sorry,anyway big congrats to Dustin Brown very much deserved….

I thought when Brown didn’t put away that smash on matchpoint on Rafa serve that Rafa was going to come back…..I was wrong. Sorry to all Nadal fans, I really thought he was going to make a run here. But, now my fellow Canadian Vasek has a chance to make a little run here

Are there any Brown fans out there? If so, congratulations! He kicked him big time, not once but twice. Let’s see if he can back it up. #102 in the world, so I really doubt it. On to USO….summer will be just about over by that time and then Christmas…..then the Aussie Open….Wow, how time flies when you’re having fun…..Well, on second thought, being a Rafa fan hasn’t been too much fun this year!

Told you since last year, if Nadal wasn’t delivering in Wimby at 26-28 how would he fare at 29 and beyond. Wimbledon is juta out of reach for him, as RG and AO are for Fed.

5 Slams with no title and he now enter a “dark” period where all great champion pass before. The question: will he ever win another Slam is imminent and only time will tell? But he will play 2 more Slams (USO and AO) on HC befoee turning 30 and than it’s only going to get harder.

Indeed Murray more relieved because one potential hard match is gone (Murray lost 3 times to Nadal at Wimbledon) but to me he was favorite to win it regardless.

Now only Tsonga (big if due to his recent injury bit he is playing great) and Berdych can spoil a blockbuster Murray x Fed semis. This is a match I want o see because both play amazing on grass and if both are fully on could be a cracker.

HC, if there is a consolation he got f$&d by the same women he rapes in the film which is kind of an eye for an eye justice. I don’t like extra violence as well prefer sutil (like Seven) but in this case it was part of the narrative. But is not a movie for everybody.

Did I just hear 4th straight year losing to a player outside the top 100? How does a player go from 5 years of STRAIGHT finals (not including one year off) to 4 straight early outs, especially considering he has mostly continued to perform at a high level at other tournaments?

Hoping for a Djoko x Stan semis (rematch of RG). That could be tense and Fed x Murray. Would be great to have all top 4 seeds reach semis where any final would be great match up. Stan played Murray tuff before and just beat Fed in straight in Garros. Fed x Djoko rematch of last year or the one most are expecting: Djoko x Murray to see if Murray finally breaks the trend or if Djoko dominance continues. Prefer this match ups than have a Berdych or Raonic in the mix who we know are ready to win Wimbledon now.

TV, Nadal is kind of facing law of averages. He should have lost several matches in his 2006-2011 run (to Soderlijg, Youzhny was leadin 2-0 once but got injured etc…). Now is payback, every potential danger player he faced with a big server he lost. The Darcis lost was strange bit Rosol, Brown and Kyrgios last year were oj superv serving day and play a game that doesn’t give any rhythm to Nadal. When Insaw his draw I thought he could have a problem with Troicki and very deep in my mind I thought, well Brown if is in one of those days can still a set, maybe force a fift. But didn’t expect him to lose. Not surprise also.

Daniel well im not a fan of Stanley Kubric anyway i find the films all a bit strange to be honest,and although they were violent films i did like Kill Bill 1 and 2,Pulp Fiction,Casino,Goodfellows as i like Tarantino and Scorcesse, just not keen on men who violate womens bodies for pleasure,but good for her that she got her own back….

Also, he always enteres Wimbledon pumped up by amazing European Clay and he builds on confidence of recent wins. He won a bunchnof matches on his name and mental fortitude, now everybody wants a piece of him. Same happen to Federer.

All players want to beat them and thye know now they are chances are better than never compared to the phase when they were, quoting Federer: “monsters”.

Im happy that Nadal is out, not because i hate Nadal or anything, but because the comments he made regarding his past loses in Wimbledon showed zero respect to his fellow colleagues and that despite what he claims, he is not a good loser. He said that in 2012 (Rosol, outplayed) AND 2013 (Darcis, also outplayed) he arrived with health problems (2013, the year in which BEFORE WIMBLEDON he dominated the clay season and AFTER WIMBLEDON he sweeped the american hard court swing), and that last year he played good and that he lost a match that he should have won.
Another year, another second round loss to a journeyman (the new GOAT, 2-0 head to head against Nadal), so, which will be the excuse this time?…can the guy just accept that grass is not suited for him, that almost everybody on any given day can beat him at Queens / Halle / Wimbledon.
Its the fourth consecutive year in which Nadal loses against a player with zero pedigree, and that its not “bad luck / health problems”…its a trend.
Regarding the match, Brown played his aggresive / unortodox game on his best surface, and took advantage of a player who is in absolute denial….who claims tha he is enjoying being on court, that is more confident than a couple of months ago, but once the match gets tight, his nerves beat him. His forehand deserted him again, and thats the fear of losing.
Fo all Nadal fans, lets hope that he gets some confidence back, because he is gonna need it once the hard cour season arrives, and i will not be surprised that (ala Federer 2013) he asks for some wildcards and look for that confidence in Gstaad and Hamburg

That was spectacular on Dustin’s part. His favorite surface, grass court tactics – it all worked. Not much Rafa could do although there were some uncharacteristic mistakes (especially on BPs where he used to be rock solid). He’s having a year like Muzz’s 2014, only a bit worse. He’s never not made the SF at 4 slams in a row. But I don’t think it’s over, not by a long shot. Remember the last time he took a break and reassessed things?

Anyway, happy for Dustin Brown and just a little sad to see a great champion lose this early.

Yeah, HC. Tarantino and Scorcese are masters of using ultraviolence but adding sarcams and a sense of irony that is digestable for us. They do it in a way that is comical and doesn’t shock much, makes you smile after a violent scene.

If Karlovic x Dolgo ends today. Karlovic has advantahe of serving first and if Dolgo makes some DF’s and mistakes he can have a window, because he is still serving aces at willanyone knows the record of aces in a fift set match?

Actually Rafas losses at W dont surprise me much anymore,even on the two years he won the title he rather laboured through some five setters Petzchner,Hasse,Soda,Gulbis,its two years since he won the USO and admitedly hes two years older,but the irony is hes never struggled at the USO the way he has the last few years at W,time will tell if he does this year?….

Nadal didn’t play USO in 2012 and 2014. All last 3 times he played he reached finals agains Novak: won in 10′ and 13′ and lost 11′. Indeed remains to be seen if he can delivera once again in USO. Rught bow he should focus on getting back to top 8 bedore USO to avoid facing a seed in R16.
Matbe he should enter another tourney prior to Canada/Cincy.

Thought it would be a tough match for Rafa since Dustin seems to love the grass, but still a surprise. I saw Dustin at the US Open against Tomic, and the Aussie just rolled over him. Didn’t see most of the match, but w/o that forehand, it’s going to be tough for Rafa. Not shocked to see that dustin went to the net so often, but 99 times in 4 sets! Perfect game plan against a lot of players these days.

Murray has a great draw now to get to the semis, but he’ll probably have to face Roger. Hard to tell who has the upper hand there.

Have to say watching this Rafa press conference is a little heartbreaking, doesn’t seem like he’s quite processed everything. Getting asked a lot of tough questions, seems very disappointed

Nadal: “I am a good loser.” No, he is not. Before this WImbledon he explained any of his 3 previous loses, and gave ZERO credit to his opponents, citing the first two as “arriving not 100%, with health problems” and the third implying that bad luck prevented him, beacause he lost a match that he SHOULD HAVE WON.

I dont know exactly what hes supposed to say like yay i lost,so hes a sore loser?big deal so are alot of players,i would rather he was a sore loser than a happy loser,we have a saying here in Britain show me a good loser and ill show you a loser….

Jock-KatH, that is what I don;t want, Berdy win. That’s why I don;t want him to have one of those days and maybe beat Fed, although I think it is not going to happen.

I don’t want anymore upsets because I think the top 4 would provide us very entertaining semis and finals, which ever way.

The top 4 had convincing wins together with Tsonga and Berdy, so this are the in form right now. Other top 10 are out (ferrer, Nadal and key), Raonic won a tense one and Dimi is just Dimi.
Cilic is a big question mark but playing 5 sets early on is not good prospect. So I hope for Top 4 seed semis.

@Jock…..yeah thanks! The fans in all fan bases have gone through tough times. I hope Andy wins! He’s my number 2 fav.

@Chick….I composed a retort to Felipe and decided to delete it. What’s the use? Rafa answers their stupid questions with his thoughts and feelings about the loss and gets criticized and crucified. Not possible for him to do or say anything right according to some………